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    Olson, Alec Gehard

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1969-72 (District 23); Senate 1973-76 (District 21)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/11/1930
    Birth Place: Mamre Township, Minnesota
    Birth County: Kandiyohi
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Willmar
    Occupation (when first elected): Investment Securities/Farming

    EDUCATION

    Willmar High School; Secondary; 1948

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Executive Branch: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture); [Dates Unknown]
    U.S. Representative: 6th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/07/1963 to 01/03/1967 [Elected]
    State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 12/29/1976 to 01/04/1979 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Janice Ruth Albrecht (married in 1957)
    Children: Four children: Alan, Dennis, Deron, and Eric (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He ran unsuccessfully for reelection to the United States House of Representatives in the 1966 election.

    He resigned from the Senate and became Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota on December 29, 1976 after Rudy Perpich became Governor when Wendell Anderson resigned that office to become a United States Senator.

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2787

    SESSIONS SERVED

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 21
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Spicer
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 12/29/1976 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine
    Occupation: Investment Securities/Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Local Government (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Joint Rule 20 (Deadlines)
    • Rules and Administration: Re-referrals (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration: Staffing
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate
    Leadership Notes: He resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on December 29, 1976.
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He resigned on December 29, 1976 to become Minnesota Lieutenant Governor after Walter Mondale was elected Vice-President of the United States.

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 21
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Willmar
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 12/29/1976 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine
    Occupation: Investment Securities/Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Local Government (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Elections
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Joint Fuel Oil
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He resigned on December 29, 1976 to become Minnesota Lieutenant Governor after Walter Mondale was elected Vice-President of the United States.
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Willmar
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Swift
    Occupation: Investment Securities/Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • General Legislation
    • Higher Education
    • Taxes and Tax Laws

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 5/9/1969
    Residence: Willmar
    Term of Office: 5/14/1969 to 1/4/1971 (Special Election)
    Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Swift
    Occupation: Investment Securities/Farming
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Public Domain
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    Session Notes: He won the special election held due to the death of Robert Johnson.
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Senate Photos

    The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

    Senator Alec Olson, Senate staff person Peggy Ingison, Senator George Conzemius, and Senator Nick Coleman at a Senate committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota.
    Articles & Books About
    Alec G. (Gehard) Olson. Biographical Information from the Minnesota Historical Society's Governors of Minnesota.

    Olson, Alec Gehard. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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